Metro

B’klyn subway entrance opens after 40 years

The eastern entrance to the 4th Avenue/9th Street subway station — shuttered since Richard Nixon was in the White House — was finally reopened today, part of a massive MTA rebuilding effort in Brooklyn.

For the first time in 40 years, straphangers east of the station can avoid crossing multiple lanes of traffic to get to the F/G train station, which serves roughly 11,400 passengers a day.

Other station improvements include new lights, floors, walls, and turnstiles.

The long-awaited reopening was done in conjunction with the MTA’s work on the Culver line, a complicated and time consuming project that has led to the closure of the Smith-9th Sts station until later this year.

Yesterday Brooklyn residents finally saw the fruits of some of that labor.

“The opening of the east side entrance to the 4th Avenue-9th Street station is a big win for the community and the first stage of what will be the eventual transformation of Fourth Avenue into a grand ‘Brooklyn Boulevard,’ ” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

“Soon, the area adjacent to this entrance will be filled with retail, and the exterior archways and windows will be opened and restored to their original glory.”

Markowitz secured $2 million in funding for the entrance reopening, while Assembly Member Joan Millman scored another $800,000.

Some work still needs to be done on the station, however.

Some of the doors are temporary and need to be replaced with permanent ones.

And the historic arch — one of the station’s signature architectural features — still needs to be restored.

jennifer.fermino@nypost.com